Update: Malawi continues to respond to the severe floods that struck the country between March 15 and 18, leaving 13 people dead and 35 injured. According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), the heavy rainfall has affected 9,598 households across 16 districts and city councils, as reported by Pan African Visions. The worst-hit area is the southern district of Chikwawa, where three fatalities occurred and three of the country's 12 evacuation camps have been established, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
In response to the widespread damage, DoDMA has initiated the distribution of relief aid to displaced households. DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni has publicly appealed to local and international non-governmental organisations, development partners, and the private sector to assist with relief items, financial support, and search and rescue operations, Pan African Visions reports. Local councils are currently conducting detailed field assessments to determine the full extent of the destruction to infrastructure and agriculture.
While the initial storm system has passed, authorities remain on high alert. The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services indicated in its five-day forecast for March 20 to 24 that a general reduction in rainfall activity is anticipated over the weekend, according to the agency's official bulletin. However, the weather department warned that scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are expected to persist over the lakeshore areas, posing a continued risk to vulnerable communities.